The ROG Xbox Ally is getting a new set of updates as Xbox continues refining its handheld to better suit both portable and docked play.
The ROG Xbox Ally is Xbox‘s answer to the gaming industry’s push towards a greater mobile gaming experience, such as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Portal, though most like the Valve Steam Deck as a handheld PC. The ROG Xbox Ally combines tech from ASUS, Xbox, and Windows, meaning you can play games and run PC programs like a laptop, all running on AMD technology.
In the months since release, Xbox has been taking in feedback from users of the handheld, and has just announced a set of updates focused on making the ROG Xbox Ally handheld look, feel, and play more like a traditional Xbox console experience.
One of the highlighted updates is an improvement to docked play in an effort to help shift gameplay seamlessly to a big screen. When docked and connected to a TV, the ROG Xbox Ally will gain access to features like Auto Low Latency Mode, Variable Refresh Rate on supported Smart TVs, and improved controller pairing.
Auto Super Resolution is coming too, aiming to deliver sharper visuals and smoother frame rates on larger displays, with an integrated Game Bar feature so players can control when Auto SR activates during gameplay. This feature is currently available in the Xbox Insider preview on the ROG Xbox Ally X.
Rolling out this month, the Xbox PC app will consolidate every installed game, regardless of storefront or launcher. Everything will be accessible in one place, so app users can add, remove, edit, and launch any installed game or app.
For the senses, there are also updates for vibration features that will continue to be refined for richer and more immersive haptic feedback. Bluetooth LE Audio on the ROG Xbox Ally will stream in super-wideband stereo voice fidelity, delivering lower latency and high-fidelity stereo audio and voice chat.
There is also ongoing support for games receiving Handheld Compatibility, Default Game Profiles and Advanced Shader Delivery, which work together to make it easier for supported games to run at optimal settings and performance when playing in handheld mode. Some games that already support all three features are Ninja Gaiden 4, Grounded 2, High on Life 2, The Outer Worlds 2, Ark: Survival Ascended, Monster Hunter Rise, and Gears of War: Reloaded.
If you want to check out the full list of updates for yourself, check out the details on Xbox Wire.
